Hebrews 9:24-28 (NRSV)
Read Hebrews 9:24-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Verse 25Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; Verse 26for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. Verse 27And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, Verse 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Devotion
Christ, our high priest, shows us once and for all, how he offered his life as a sacrifice for our sin. Through it, the kingdom of God has begun but is not yet complete. And even as we wait for his return, we know the end of the story – Christ will come again to consummate our salvation.
Trusting this conclusion, how do we live our lives as members of the priesthood of all believers? Do we regard all that we have been given – our selves, our time and our possessions – as rightfully ours? Or do we consider all these gifts as God’s, to be shared with others? Making any real sacrifice is rare in our culture; yet our calling is to follow Jesus as he leads us to serve his children.
Prayer
Ever-living and giving God, salvation belongs to you, and yet you promise, through the sacrifice of your son, to share it with us. May we be so bold as to share with others from the love you have given us, for the sake of him who offered himself for all. Amen.